WGN Radio 720: China’s Newest AI Chatbot is Programmed with President Xi Jinping’s Political Ideology

The unveiling of China’s latest artificial intelligence chatbot trained on President Xi Jinping’s doctrine has sparked discussions about the ideological boundaries that Chinese AI models must adhere to. The chatbot, trained on Xi Jinping Thought, a doctrine promoting “socialism with Chinese characteristics,” was developed by China’s cyberspace academy using seven databases, including information technologies provided by the Cyberspace Administration of China.

The AI model, created for internal use, aims to demonstrate advancements in cybersecurity and IT research. It can generate report outlines on AI development and productivity, as well as provide translations in Chinese or English. However, it remains unclear if the Xi-trained chatbot will be made available for public use.

The launch of the chatbot comes amidst the ongoing race for AI supremacy between the U.S. and China. While San Francisco-based OpenAI’s ChatGPT model has been widely acclaimed, China is also striving to become a global leader in AI by 2030. With a population of 1.4 billion, China has a significant advantage in amassing data for training AI systems in areas like facial recognition and autonomous driving.

Despite the technological advancements, Chinese AI models are subject to strict censorship rules, limiting their ability to address politically sensitive topics. This constraint has led to the development of AI models like the Xi-trained chatbot, which align with the Chinese government’s ideologies and principles.

As China continues to invest in AI research and development, the unveiling of the Xi-trained chatbot underscores the country’s commitment to promoting President Xi Jinping’s ideology through innovative technologies.